frankenstein movie vs book essay

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How is the original Frankenstein movie (1931) different from the novel?

I read a review of the 1931 Frankenstein movie recently and in it the reviewer said that the movie was adapted from a play, which was significantly different from the original novel.

What are the main differences between the novel and the original movie?

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2 Answers 2

The differences are HUGE.

The Monster:

In the original novel, the Monster was designed to be beautiful and was alert, fast, strong, and downright eloquent in his speech. Upon animating, his beauty became a sick mockery of what the Doctor had intended, and the Monster was described as 'hideous'. This, and his strength, are all that remains of the monster from the novel, when transferred to the movie.

The Bookends:

The original novel is bookended with narration by a seaman in the arctic, Captain Walton. The ship has picked up a man who was on the ice, on a dogsled, nearly frozen. This man is Victor Frankenstein. The rest of the novel recounts Frankenstein's story, as told to the Captain.

The book had no hunchbacked assistant, and no abnormal brain. The Monster turned out just as Frankenstein intended... Science went Horribly Right (TV Tropes).

In the book, the Doctor betrayed his creation first by abandoning it immediately after granting it life, then by destroying a second monster, designed to be its bride. The Monster had intended to take his bride to distant lands, where none but they could live, and live with her in peace. The Doctor, just before giving the Bride life, chose instead to destroy it, tearing it asunder, so as to not create another abomination (as he supposed the Monster to be).

The novel also featured the Monster killing (or being responsible for the deaths of) most of the Frankenstein family: Victor's brother, wife, and best friend. Victor's father dies of illness after this. Thus, in the books, the Monster and Victor are mutually antagonistic, with the book culminating in Victor swearing to follow the Monster to the ends of the Earth, until one of them destroys the other.

The Ending:

Victor dies. The Monster realizes that the death of its creator brings it no peace, and vows to the Captain that it will build a funeral pyre, and immolate itself.

In short, the movie took the core elements of the novel - a man playing God, and the awful ramifications, and put them into a frame that could be easily shot. It based its work off of a play which had already done much of this: the play required a manageable number of sets, a small number of characters, etc. All of these made the play a good source for the movie, but they lost most of the specifics in the transition.

The only real similarities between the novel and the original movie are character names, the moral, and the fact that the Monster kills people.

Wikipedia includes a bit more information .

• It's worth noting that two of the things most people associate with Frankenstein's Monster in the movies, Ygor and the hands extended out in front, are in later movies. And the hands being out front was because the monster had been blinded. –  FuzzyBoots Commented May 16, 2015 at 2:24

According to Wikipedia, the film is more different than it is similar .

In the book, The Abomination taught himself to read, write and talk. Not so in the film In Shelley's novel Frankenstein's Monster had got his head cut because of Frankenstein's need to put the brain in his creation, not by an axe. He also, unlike the movie, had long hair, a round head, rags for clothes, decaying skin, and no bolts on the sides of his throat. In the book, the Creature acts savagely because of the way he was treated. In the film, it was assumed that Frankenstein made a mistake in the creation. Igor wasn't in the novel as depicted in the movie. Frankenstein created the Monster by himself. The process of creating the Creature is different in the two stories. There is no mention in the movie of the monster asking for a female companion as it is in the novel. In the novel, the doctor's name is Victor, not Henry. And he wasn't a doctor in the novel. He was a failed college student.

There are other differences, as well.

• There was no hunchback named Igor in the 1931 Frankenstein movie. His name is Fritz, not Igor. Also, neither in the book nor in the movie is there any evidence that Frankenstein had gone past the medical student stage. He is not a doctor. The book does not say the monster had electrodes on his neck, but it doesn't say he doesn't either. The book says the monster has flowing hair. Karloff's hair flows down from the top of his head, so the look does not necessarily contradict the description in the novel. –  user45642 Commented May 15, 2015 at 23:00

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ENGLISH 123: Introduction to Fiction

Adaptation, Intertextuality, and Fidelity

Frankenstein the book vs the film: Character and Personality

The story of Frankenstein written in 1818 by Mary Shelley and its reenactment in 1931 are two very distinct forms of the same idea. There are various differences in plot points, characterization, thematic points, and even the ending. The main difference that sticks out to me is the manner of how evil is instilled in an individual. The 1818 version addresses how social constructs can play into the character and the attitude of a person and the 1931 adaptation believes that personality is innate and predetermined. There are examples in both versions of the text supporting these differing views.

Within the text, there is an instance where Mary hints toward her understanding of how personality is developed. The Monster tried repeatedly to gain the love and care that he would give out to others. From when he was keeping the old man company to when he saved the young girl, he was attempting to display himself as a sympathetic person who would rather turn the cheek than do harm to anyone. Just because of his appearance, everyone discriminated against the Monster and had prejudices of him being a horrible creature, even his creator Victor. Around the point in which the Monster met his breaking point and killed Victor’s younger brother, he proclaimed “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?” (Shelley, 102) The Monster was mistreated and became filled with rage and anger due to others; they refused his kindness and met him with hate at every turn. The Monster was fed up with the lack of reciprocation and became sadistic and harmful due to how others treated him on a constant basis. Mary Shelley seemed to believe that personality and character are developed through one’s experience in society.

In contrast, the film depicted the acquirement of character and personality as a predetermined in each human. Scriptwriters portrayed this ideal is by explaining that the brain in which the Monster acquired would determine his intelligence and morals. The initial brain retrieved for the Monster was that of a normal person, which insinuates that normal people are already made with morals. When the normal brain is dropped, it is switched with a criminal one; Dr. Waldman earlier explained that there were physical differences between the brain of a normal person and a criminal. Waldman and the little girl are then murdered seemingly because of the evil brain put inside of the Monster. Therefore, the brain in which he was given determined his outcome rather than how he was treated in society. This comes clear as a point attempting to be made by the screenwriters when the Monster is not treated terribly because of his looks and kills a little girl attempting to be his friend.

Intentions and messages within different versions of the story can be easily seen by the manner in which similar overarching themes are portrayed. The ideology of Mary Shelley in 1818 clearly reflected how character is learned through social interactions, and the message carried through this novel. Creators involved in Frankenstein the movie reflected their beliefs of character being an innate quality that people have from the beginning. The stories were written in different scopes and took two different forms to reflect what the authors found as the most important message to convey to the audience.

How is the book Frankenstein different from the movie?

• July 7, 2024

How is Frankenstein portrayed in the book?

How does the monster in frankenstein change throughout the novel, how does frankenstein's monster look in the book, does frankenstein say it's alive in the book, frankenstein - book vs. movie.

Why is the Frankenstein movie not like the book?

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5 Differences Between ‘Frankenstein’ and the Film Adaptations

Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley is hailed as the first real science-fiction novel. Following Dr. Victor Frankenstein, it chronicles Frankenstein’s journey to create life and his clash with his creation after he succeeds. Touching on themes of ambition, lost of innocence, revenge, humanity, responsibility and creattion,  Frankenstein is a dense but very worthwhile classic of its genre. However, it unfortunately has been largely displaced in the popular consciousness by its film adaptations. To celebrate its publication anniversary, here are five facts about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its many differences to work that adapted its spooky tale.   1. The Framing Device The …

Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus , by Mary Shelley is hailed as the first real science-fiction novel. Following Dr. Victor Frankenstein, it chronicles Frankenstein’s journey to create life and his clash with his creation after he succeeds. Touching on themes of ambition, lost of innocence, revenge, humanity, responsibility and creattion,   Frankenstein  is a dense but very worthwhile classic of its genre. However, it unfortunately has been largely displaced in the popular consciousness by its film adaptations. To celebrate its publication anniversary, here are five facts about Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein  and its many differences to work that adapted its spooky tale.

1. The Framing Device

The original novel uses a framing device to tell its story. Captain Walton, a sailor in the arctic, picks up Victor Frankenstein on the ice and brings him aboard his ship. There, Frankenstein tells the tale of how he got here, turning the entire book into one long flashback. The Creature confronts Captain Walton at the end, vowing it will destroy itself via funeral pyre. However, Captain Walton is a character who is very rarely adapted, the framing device being almost entirely omitted from films based on or inspired by the book.

2. There was no Igor

Dr. Frankenstein’s hunchbacked assistant, Igor, is purely a creation of popular culture. In the original novel, Frankenstein worked entirely alone, creating the monster in a hidden room at his college. He kept the experiment entirely secret and had no outside help at all. The character of an assistant first appeared in 1931’s  Frankenstein  film in the form of Fritz, before being codified, ironically enough, by Mel Brook’s spoof film  Son of Frankenstein.

3. The Monster Speaks

The Monster is a very different character from the mute, lumbering brute that was made famous in the Universal Horror films. Although he begins as a borderline feral creature after his ‘birth’, the Monster slowly learns language and reasoning over the course of the novel. He becomes extremely intelligent and articulate, often spending pages contemplating his unnatural existence. He even learns how to make clothes and uses weapons to defend himself as he survives in the wilderness. Compared to his film counterpart, he’s a wholly different beast.

4. The Creation is Offscreen

Doubtlessly one of the most famous in cinema is the creation of Frankenstein’s monster. Everything about it is iconic, from the slab the monster rests upon to the flashing laboratory equipment to the bolt of lightning that brings him to life to Frankenstein proclaiming “Its alive, its alive!” But the sequence in question actually isn’t in the original novel! Yes, the creation of the Monster in the book is entirely offscreen and left to the reader’s imagination. Oddly, this makes it more compelling to the imagination…how did Frankenstein do it? We’ll never know but it certainly makes good food for thought.

5. Frankenstein Dies

In the novel, Victor Frankenstein pays for his hubris. After trekking the Monster to the Arctic, he collapses on the ice and is rescued by Captain Walton. But it is too late for him and after telling the Captain his story, he expires. Subsequent adaptations have spared Frankenstein his untimely demise, doubtlessly to keep a relatively happy ending.

What are your favorite moments from the book that didn’t make it to the screen?

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Frankenstein: The Comparison between the Movie and Novel

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Introduction.

Frankenstein , the novel, is Mary Shelley’s work that was published in the year 1818. It is also the title of a film directed by Kenneth Branagh in 1994, which was based on Shelley’s book. It is usually expected that a film that is dedicated from a story, whether a legend, fictional novel, or even a biography, should animate the characters with intense similarity in plot and themes. However, film is a work of art that gives the directors and screenwriters an opportunity to express their creativity.  Frankenstein , the film and novel, naturally possess similarities considering the fact that they speak about the same story; sharing in plot and characters. Despite their similarities in plot, there are distinctive differences between Shelley’s novel and Branagh’s film in telling the story, showing that they are distinct pieces of art. This article analyses the major differences between the two works of art.

Differences between the Novel and the Film

A significant difference is exhibited in the way Victor Frankenstein, the main character, stumbles upon the secret to creating life. He had the idea and intended to work on it to its success. In the film, He narrates to Robert Walton that, after meeting his professor, Walderman, he seeks for help in creating life. However, the professor does not like the idea and utterly discourages him from proceeding in such a quest. However, he dies, and Victor continues in his goal against advice. He uses a giant laboratory that is well equipped in the movie to create an animated being, using his professor’s knowledge obtained from his research. This story is different from the novel. Elizabeth’s account of the story is that Frankenstein became curious about creating human life. However, he does not consult with anyone on this subject, but rather proceeds with his experiments and succeeds through his studies and efforts. While the Branagh’s film shows that Victor used professor Waldman’s brain and body parts of criminals in his work, Shelley’s novel has no indication of whether he used human body parts or how he might have obtained them. This difference is significant and distinguishes the novel and the movie.

The novel and the film differ in how the family members of Victor Frankenstein die. According to the film, his mother dies while giving birth to William, his younger sibling. Out of grief, his mother’s death causes him to move to Ingolstadt from Geneva, his home. It also gives him the determination to find a way to overcome life through its creation so that he can resurrect people. Therefore, it is clear that his goal at school was to learn how to create life. However, Shelley’s novel also differs on this account. Victor’s mother dies from Scarlet fever, which she had contracted from Elizabeth after she had been adopted into the family. Her death only causes him to immerse himself into research work as a way to deflect the grief of the loss, but does not directly give him the motive to create life. Instead, his own curiosity leads him to the creation of the monster. The book and novel share the similarity in Elizabeth’s cause of death, having been caused by the monster. They both have a similar answer as to why she died. However, they differ on how her death came. The novel’s narration recounts that Elizabeth was strangled to death by the monster creation of Frankenstein. On the other hand, the film shows that this monster ripped her heart out, thus causing her death. After her death, the film indicates that Frankenstein tries to reanimate Elizabeth but upon her resurrection and finding that she had Justin’s body through a mirror reflection, she sets herself on fire and burns along with their house in which she dies for the second time. However, the novel has no such account. In fact, Frankenstein, too terrified by whatever he had created, does not attempt to bring Elizabeth back to life, as per the book’s account.

The book and the film also differ in how Victor Frankenstein met with his friend Henry Clerval. According to the novel, Victor and Henry had been childhood friends. Frankenstein goes to University at Ingolstadt, Germany alone but Clerval joins him after several to find that the former had changed significantly in the way he viewed the world and life. This shows that the two were a significant part of each other’s life, having been friends for their lifetime. On the other hand, the film shows that the two friends meet at the Ingolstadt campus where their friendship begins. It is a significant difference as it shows that there was no relationship between Victor and Henry, and therefore the latter may not be able to tell the difference between young Frankenstein and the one he saw at the University.

There is a difference in how Victor responds to the monster’s demands. The latter wants Victor to create a companion of his own form and kind so that he could leave mankind alone. The novel states that Victor heeds to this request. However, out of disgust at the ugliness of the creature he had made earlier, he destroys everything that may have been used to bring the supposed bride to the monster to life. This action is responsible for the monster’s termination of Elizabeth’s life, as revenge against its creator for failing to create a companion for him and leaving it to languish in loneliness and hate from human beings, including himself. The film, on the other hand, shows that the request by the monster that Frankenstein create a companion for him comes with specific demands that he uses Justin’s body. When Victor declines, the monster tries to cox him into creating a new being by predicting that he would try to resuscitate Elizabeth. Therefore, it kills her by ripping her heart out. When her body becomes useless, Frankenstein takes her head and joins it with Justin’s body, after which she regains life. The monster is convinced that this new being, having come out of creation from different body parts of people, was like him and tries to possess her by force. This war between the monster and Victor for her possession causes Elizabeth to set herself on fire while in the house and dies.

Similarities between the Novel and the Film

The film and the novel begin their plot with Robert Walton travelling to the North Pole, when he meets Victor Frankenstein. The narration about Frankenstein’s life and the events that led to his quest to kill the monster begin after their meeting. Also, the story about his childhood, with the exception of Frankenstein’s friend, Henry, is similar. They show that he spent his childhood in Geneva, after which he leaves for Ingolstadt.

Frankenstein’s arrival at the idea to create life are brought around by the same event, which is his mother’s death. Despite the difference in the way they tell the story, the novel and the film link the immersion of Frankenstein into his research work to the grief he felt after his mother’s death and was trying to overcome.

The monster’s actions are depicted in similarity, in both the novel and the film. These are shown when it attacks the family of Frankenstein in a bid to get his attention. It begs Frankenstein to create another being that will serve as its companion as human beings had rejected its association. When Victor declines to this request, the monster kills Elizabeth as a form of revenge in order to show his creator how it felt to live without a companion, considering the fact that Frankenstein did not have any other friends apart from Henry and his wife Elizabeth.

The discussion presented above shows that there are many differences between the film by Branagh and the novel by Shelley, despite the movie being based on the plot from the novel. It is natural that there are bound to be similarities, which are also included in the discussion above. Considering the fact that numerous differences have been presented, it shows that Branagh modified Shelley’s original story to recreate a new story from it. Therefore, the two are distinct works of art that simply tell a similar story, rather than one being based on the other.

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Frankenstein Movie Vs Book: from Page to Screen

How it works

When you think of iconic tales transcending time, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” surely tops the list. Birthed in the 19th century, this narrative is more than just a horror story; it’s a deep dive into the human psyche, morality, and the complexities of creation. Fast forward to the 20th century, and Hollywood takes a stab at it, presenting its version that thrilled and chilled audiences. But how does this silver screen rendition measure up to the intricate layers of the original literary masterpiece? Does the haunting charm of the book translate well onto the big screen, or does the movie venture off on its own path, leaving purists a tad disgruntled?

• 1 Characters: Depth vs. Drama
• 2 Plot Twists and Turns: Adaptation or Alteration?
• 3 Setting the Scene: Atmosphere Matters
• 4 So, What’s the Takeaway?
• 5 Final Thoughts

Characters: Depth vs. Drama

Characters are the very heart and soul of any story. When it comes to “Frankenstein,” the contrast between the book and the movie renditions is like comparing an intricate tapestry to a bold painting. Both are beautiful but wildly different in their details.

In Mary Shelley’s original masterpiece, Victor Frankenstein isn’t just a mad scientist obsessed with creation. He’s portrayed as a deeply conflicted individual, grappling with his ambitions and the moral implications of his actions. His inner turmoil, guilt, and ultimate downfall make him relatable, if not always likable. And then there’s the creature or the “monster.” In the novel, he’s far from the grunting brute many imagine. This creature is a poignant figure, articulate and deeply emotional, yearning for understanding and acceptance in a world that shuns him.

Switch to the movie, and things take a dramatic turn. Victor is excited, driven more by passionate zeal than quiet introspection. As for the monster? A more physical and raw representation mostly replaces his deep philosophical musings and eloquence. This shift, while sacrificing some depth, certainly adds a level of drama and intensity that’s undeniably riveting on the big screen.

Plot Twists and Turns: Adaptation or Alteration?

Diving into the heart of the story, the plot is where the rubber meets the road. In Mary Shelley’s literary gem, “Frankenstein” is a profound reflection on creation, ambition, and the haunting consequences of unchecked curiosity. The journey takes readers on a psychological roller coaster, delving deep into the minds of both the creator and the created.

But what happens when this intricate narrative reaches the silver screen? Well, the story undergoes some cinematic metamorphosis. Certain elements get exaggerated to cater to a wider audience and the time constraints of a feature film, while others are tweaked or omitted. Some might call it adaptation, molding the tale for a visual medium; others might see it as alteration, a deviation from the original essence. Regardless, what’s undeniable is that the movie offers its own brand of thrills, albeit with a different flavor than the book.

Setting the Scene: Atmosphere Matters

A dimly lit laboratory, the crackling of electricity in the air, and the distant rumble of thunder. This is the essence of the atmospheric setting that Mary Shelley masterfully creates in her novel “Frankenstein.” The pages ooze with a gothic ambiance that seeps into your bones as you journey through the tale. It’s an experience that plunges you into the eerie depths of the human psyche, where morality and the unknown collide.

Now, let’s switch gears to the cinematic adaptation. The power of visual storytelling takes the reins, and suddenly, you find yourself amidst towering castles, stormy nights, and chilling landscapes. The movie engineers an atmosphere as captivating as Shelley’s words. Every scene is a canvas, painted with hues of suspense and tension, heightened by the artful use of lighting, sound effects, and set design.

Some might argue that the movie’s portrayal is a shade more grandiose and dramatic than the book’s subtler nuances. But isn’t that the beauty of adaptation? The essence remains intact, yet the medium allows for a different immersion. In both cases, the atmosphere is vital, driving the narrative forward and etching itself into our memories, whether on paper or on the big screen.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Both the book and the movie have their jazz. Mary Shelley’s masterpiece is, well, a masterpiece for a reason. It’s thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, and a total mind-bender. If you’re into soul-searching and moral dilemmas, that’s your jam.

But hey, the movie is not no slouch, either. It’s entertaining, visually stunning, and does justice to the essence of the story, albeit with some Hollywood tweaks.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t done either, read the book and watch the movie. Compare, critique, and maybe grab some popcorn while at it. Just remember, both have their quirks, merits, and unique spins.

There’s no clear winner in the grand battle of Frankenstein: Movie vs. Book. It’s all about what tickles your fancy.

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109 Outstanding Frankenstein Essay Topics

Welcome to the Frankenstein Essay Topics page prepared by our editorial team! Here, you’ll find a selection of top ideas, questions, and titles for any academic paper. We have topics about Frankenstein’s literary analysis, characters, themes, and more.

• 🔬 Literary Analysis
• 🎭 Characters
• 📊 Compare & Contrast
• 🗺️ Navigation

🎓 References

Frankenstein is a famous novel, and students will often have to write papers about it. If you have received such an assignment, this article is for you! When writing a Frankenstein literary analysis essay , there are many areas you can consider, such as characters, themes, and context. Below, we have provided 99 outstanding ideas that you can use for your assignment or to find inspiration. Don’t forget to illustrate your arguments with quotes from text when writing your Frankenstein literary analysis.

🔬 Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• What are the literary devices used to create the image of Victor Frankenstein ?
• What literary devices are used to create the image of the Monster?
• What is the importance of setting in Frankenstein ?
• Romanticism in Frankenstein : the use of poetry in the novel’s narrative
• Who is the narrator of Frankenstein , and why is the narration important?
• Narrative technique in Frankenstein .
• Nature symbolism in Frankenstein .
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a tragedy
• How does weather reflect the narrative of Frankenstein ? Give examples.
• What does fire symbolize in Frankenstein ?
• How is the power of nature depicted in Frankenstein ?
• What is the purpose of letters in Frankenstein ?
• The importance of allusions in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .
• Biblical symbolism in Frankenstein .
• Why is Frankenstein called Modern Prometheus?
• Point of view in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Frankenstein : a deconstructive reading
• Analyze the romantic elements in Frankenstein .
• Is Frankenstein a gothic novel?
• What literary devices are used to create fear in Frankenstein ?
• What is the writing style of Frankenstein ?
• Examine the role of suspense and foreshadowing throughout Frankenstein . Do you think these devices are effective?
• How does foreshadowing differ among the three main narrators of Frankenstein (Walton, Victor, and the Monster)?
• What is the purpose of the ring composition of Frankenstein ?
• How does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein allude to the myth of Prometheus?
• How is Frankenstein a romantic and horror novel?
• What role do letters from Elizabeth play in Frankenstein ‘s narrative?
• What would the novel be like if it was narrated by only Frankenstein or only the monster ?
• What does the novel gain from having so many levels of narration? Why do you suppose it might have been structured with so many embedded narratives?
• In what ways and for what ends does Mary Shelley utilize the myth of Prometheus in her novel, Frankenstein ?
• Three Separate Narratives within Shelley’s Frankenstein
• Frankenstein : Weather, Seasons, and Emotional Symbolism

🎭 Frankenstein Essay Topics: Characters

• How are women depicted in Frankenstein ? How does Shelley make them look passive?
• Why isn’t Frankenstein ’s monster given a name?
• Who is the real monster in Frankenstein ?
• Is Frankenstein ’s monster responsible for the characters’ deaths ?
• What did the childhood of Victor Frankenstein look like? What role does it play in the narrative?
• Does the monster’s eloquence and persuasiveness make it easier for the reader to sympathize with him? Why do you think most film versions of the story present the monster as mute or inarticulate?
• Trace the similarities between Victor Frankenstein and the Monster . Consider their respective relationships with nature, desires for family , and any other important parallels you find.
• Do Victor and the Monster become more similar to Frankenstein ‘s plot? How does their relationship with each other develop?
• Victor attributes his tragic fate to his relentless search for knowledge. Do you think that this is the true cause of his suffering?
• Why does Shelley describe all female characters in Frankenstein as self-sacrificing and passive?
• Who is more human, the Monster of Frankenstein ?
• Analyze the motivations of the main characters in Frankenstein .
• Victor and the Monster feature radically different perspectives on the events of Frankenstein . Whose viewpoint do you support?
• Is the Creature’s demand for a female companion a valid request? Examine the pros and cons of Victor’s compliance.
• After watching the she-monster torn to pieces, the Creature vows that Victor will “repent of the injuries (he) inflicts. Is the Creature justified in his feelings? Why or why not?
• What role does Elizabeth play in Frankenstein ?
• What is the motivation behind Victor’s vow to find and destroy his creature? Has he learned any lessons?
• Discuss the humanity of Frankenstein ‘s Monster.
• What role does Justine Moritz play in the novel?
• What is the Monster’s experience of meeting people? How do they react? Why is it so?
• How does the Monster learn to read and speak? What is his motivation?
• What role does Safie play in Frankenstein ? Look at her situation from the feminist perspective. She considers marrying a Christian as the only way to become a freer woman. What does this fact tell us about the society she lives in?
• Why does the Monster kill William Frankenstein?
• Examine the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his monster. How do they interact and communicate with each other?
• How does the creature of Frankenstein form the archetypal monster/horror character?
• “Victor Frankenstein and the Monster share the same personality: like father, like son”. Defend or attack this statement.
• How does Walton’s narration affect the story? How does it affect your interpretation of characters and events?
• Do you think that the monster has free will? Provide textual examples in support of your claim.

🌻 Frankenstein Essay Topics: Themes

• How is the theme of loneliness depicted in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley?
• Discuss the role of sickness in the novel. Victor often seems to fall ill after traumatic events. Is this a means of escape, and, if so, is it effective?
• In what ways does Frankenstein present science and knowledge as dangerous and destructive ?
• How is the idea of exploration revealed in Frankenstein ?
• Responsibility as a Theme in Frankenstein
• How are the dangers of obsession shown in Frankenstein ?
• What ethical concerns the use of animal and human bodies by Victor Frankenstein might raise?
• Analyze Frankenstein through the prism of feminist theory
• Describe the theme of kindness and compassion in Frankenstein
• Frankenstein : the theme of birth
• To what extent does Frankenstein support Mary Wollstonecraft’s claim that women were treated as inferior to men?
• Homosexuality in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Science is portrayed in a bad light in the novel Frankenstein . The author implies that the direction that civilization moves in is determined by what it understands about power. Analyze this statement in relation to the current society.
• Does Frankenstein present the value of the domestic circle?
• Describe how the theme of ambition is presented in Frankenstein .
• Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein states that he had no choice, that he was destined, that it was fate that he created the monster. Were his actions really a matter of fate? Or is he simply using fate as an excuse for his actions?
• Critical analysis of human Nature in Frankenstein , as it Connects to Freudian Psychology
• Scientific inquiry in Frankenstein
• Frankenstein as a feminist novel
• Desire and revenge in Frankenstein and Prometheus
• The theme of knowledge portrayed in Frankenstein

⌛ Frankenstein Essay Topics: Context

• Describe how Mary Shelley’s life experiences influenced the story of Frankenstein
• What is the historical relevance of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley? Find in the text the examples of reactions to the historical movements of the Enlightenment , industrial revolution, and romanticism.
• How are the ideas of Shelley’s parents presented in Frankenstein ?
• How does Frankenstein rely on the ideas, beliefs, and issues presented in other texts?
• How might Frankenstein be read as a commentary on scientific progress?
• Historical Context in Frankenstein
• Frankenstein : the autobiography of Mary Shelley?

📊 Compare & Contrast Frankenstein Essay Questions

• Compare and contrast Frankenstein and The Last Man by Mary Shelley
• Science & Nature in Frankenstein & Blade Runner
• How is the theme of revenge shown in Frankenstein and Hamlet ?
• Frankenstein : compare the novel with the movie of 1937
• Compare Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray
• On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer vs. Frankenstein : compare & contrast
• Compare Frankenstein and Macbeth
• Make a comparison of The Handmaid’s Tale and Frankenstein
• Which Frankenstein movie is most like the book?
• Macbeth & Frankenstein : compare & contrast
• Discuss the differences and similarities between Victor Frankenstein and Beowulf
• Compare and contrast Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Robert Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde .
• How has Frankenweenie , a film by Tim Burton, transformed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to appeal to modern audiences?
• Frankenstein vs. Great Expectations : compare & contrast
• From superhuman to posthuman: The gothic technological imaginary in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis
• Science, gender and otherness in Shelley’s Frankenstein and Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation
• Compare and contrast the theme of appearances in Frankenstein to the same theme in other literary works.
• Monstrous characters in Frankenstein and Hedda Gabler
• Pity and revenge in Frankenstein and The Cry of the Children
• Technology’s effect on human relationships: comparing Station Eleven and Frankenstein
• Gender roles in Frankenstein and Fantomina
• Choosing a Topic: Purdue OWL
• Selecting a Topic: UM-Flint
• Introduction to Research: Cornell University
• Find a Topic Idea: Questia
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Study Guide Menu

• Plot Summary
• Summary & Analysis
• Literary Devices & Symbols
• Essay Samples
• Essay Topics
• Questions & Answers
• Mary Shelley: Biography
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IvyPanda . 2024. "109 Outstanding Frankenstein Essay Topics." May 24, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/outstanding-essay-topics/.

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "109 Outstanding Frankenstein Essay Topics." May 24, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/outstanding-essay-topics/.